Sheet material accumulating apparatus



Aug. 27, 1957 J. D. ROBERTSON SHEET MATERIAL ACCUMULATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 29, 1955 Aug- 27, 1957 J. D. ROBERTSON 2,804,299

SHEET MATERIAL ACCUMULATING APPARATUS Filed June 29, '1955 3 Sheets-Sheet B19. a

f 30 40 sa zr 5 1?., S "6 Aug 27, -1957 J. D. ROBERTSON 2,804,299

SHEET MATERIAL ACCUMULATING APPARATUS Patented Aug. 27, 1957 SHEET MATERIAL ACCUMULATIN G APPARATUS John D. Robertson, Taunton, 'Mass Application `lune 29, 1955, ASerial No. 518,830

8 Claims. (Cl. 271-22.)

This invention relates to improvements yin .sheet material accumulating fapparatus. More particularly the in- -vention .provides improved apparatus for maintaining an accumulated intermediate supply of continuousY `sheet .'-ma- -terial from which @the Asheet material may fbewithdrawn as needed in the subsequent processing thereof. The apparatus, efor example, may Iinclude `a textile scray, or the like, into which 4a `continuous web lorsheet or film maybe delivered intermittently from any suitable supply thereby to maintain an yadequate ever-available intermediate sup- -ply of 4the :material in the scray, or :other comparable receptacle, from 1which the material :may -be continuously withdrawn. The invention provides such accumulating Vapparatus which can :effectively lhandle any of a large yvariety of ilexible sheets, 'webs and lms in .an eicient manner with avoidance of'objectionab'le crushing, Vwrink- -ling or .creasing of the material in the scray lor other vrac- .cumulator.

yIn the Itextile industry, for example, cloth Iwhich Ahas been finished frequently is accumulated in a :scray and :withdrawn for subsequent processing, yand Vit is essential Athat the vcloth fbe not crushed, wrinkled .or creased ;as a result of its delivery into and its accumulation yWithin the scray. Heretofore, it 'has vbeen the conventional and universal custom to deliver cloth, or yother sheet material, into a scray, or the like, Y.which ,has -had a relatively lixed -relation to the vdelivering means. `In other words, :the .sheet-supporting wall portions lof the scray along which the sheet material delivers and on which the intermediate supply is Aaccumulated -have ibeen vfixed :in position with some predetermined inclination of vthe scray -wall portions along and on which the material Adelivers and is supported. .So-called vertical scraysrprovide a fixed-relatively steep slope -of the wall portions along which the material delivers, and Iso-called horizontal scrays provide 'a fixed more gradual inclination'of the wall portions along which the material delivers. In .each case, however, changing conditions as regards the rate of delivery of sheet :material into the scray, and differences'in kind and .character of the delivering material, create extremely `troublesome problems. scray apparatus may-perform perfectly in handlinga sheet material of `a particular kind and character, ldeliveringinto the scray Yat a particular rate when theideli-veringor feed means operates. But that same sheet materiahfollowing some special treatment, may aga'n'fcome `to -the scray and 'the scray may fbe wholly incapable of satisfactorily For example, any particular vconventional 5 tioned conditions, and sheet materials being handled frequently become objectionably wrinkled and creased.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide sheet material accumulating apparatus which is readily and quickly -adaptable for etlcient handling of sheet materials of any of a wide variety of kinds and characters. According to the invention, the accumulating portion of the apparatus has 'provision Vfor varying the slope of its sheet supporting walls to suit particular needs or desires, thereby to 'ensure efficient handling of sheetmaterials which may vary considerably in kind and/ or character, without work-stopping lapping of the materials around elements of the sheet-delivering means, and without objectionable crushing, wrinkling or creasing of the handling the material in its'new condition. The-material may Eback Iup and :become :lapped-in the 'feed rolls of the delivering means because the slope ofthe scray is inadequate, or the delivering material may become objection- 'ablyvcrus'hetL wrinkled or creased because the slope of the scray is either inadequate or 'too steep. Similar difliculties 'and problems arise'when it becomes necessary or desirable to handle sheet materials of different -kinds 4and varieties. yl-Expensive Y*and time-consuming workstoppages have'been relatively (frequent occurrences -underthe menaccumulated sheet material.

Another object of `the invention is to provide sheet material accumulating apparatus wherein sheet material is delivered to and accumulated .upon a sloping wall or platform which is movably supported for varying the degree of slope thereof, with means for maintaining the wall or platform in any selected position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus in the nature of a textile scray having associated sheet feeding means for automatically maintaining an ever-available supply of sheet material in the apparatus notwithstanding continuous withdrawal of sheet material Afrom the apparatus, 'the said apparatus including a pivotally mounted inclined support for holding an accumulation ofthe sheet material, and means wherebysaid support may be selectively adjusted about its pivot 'to vary the degree of its said inclination to suit particular conditions and requirements.

VStill another object of the invention is to provide sheet material accumulating apparatushaving an inclined support on which sheet material may `be accumulated and from which sheet material may be continuously withdrawn for processing, and having means for selectively varying the degree of inclination of the support without interruption of the said withdrawal.

'It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure, effectiveness and efficiency of sheet material accumulating apparatus and more especially such apparatus from which there is a continuous withdrawal `of sheet material from an accumulation which is automatically replenished intermittently and automatically to maintain an ever-'available accumulation of the sheet material in the apparatus.

in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of sheet handling apparatus .embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is.an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig. l, looking at that end which `is to the 4right in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a -top plan view of the apparatus of Figs. `l and 2 on a slightly larger scale, with a longitudinal central :portion broken away to conserve space;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view approximately on line 4 4 of Fig. l, on a substantially larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, lon a larger scale, showing how sheet-supporting portions of the accumulator, and one of the sheet guards, may be swung about their respective pivots between the illustrated full line positions thereof and the illustrated .dotted line Ypositions thereof;

Fig. 6 Vis a fragmentary view in cross-section on line v15-5 of Fig. l, on a larger scale; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view in cross-section approximately on line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, ythe illustrated sheet-handling apparatus comprises :a frame with means 10 at one end for removably supporting a supply roll 12 of cloth, ,or other sheet material. The frame, as shown, has two channel-iron uprights 14 adjacent; the roll-supporting means 1G and has two longer channel-iron uprights 16 i are rigidly secured together by angle-iron brackets 22,

and the uprights 16 are rigidly secured to the lower horizontal members 2G by the angle-iron brackets 24. Angleiron members 26 extend transversely between the uprights 14, 'being rigidly secured zat their ends to the uprights 14 and to the lower horizontal members 2t). The r uprights 14 may be further braced by the transverse angle-iron member 28, and the uprights 16 preferably are rigidly braced by the crossing angle-iron members 30, 32 as best seen in Fig. 2. p v

An available variety `of sheet-feeding means represented generally at 34 mounted on the horizontal members 18 above the supply roll 12. Cloth or other sheet material 13 drawn from the supply at 12 engages over guide roller 36 and passes thence between the feed rollers 37, 37 of which the roller 37 may be belt driven by an electric motor 37a, or the like. The feed rollers deliver the sheet material into a scray or other accumulator indicator indicated generally at 38.

The sheet-feeding means 34 is adapted to maintain a suitable intermediate supply of the sheet material in the accumulator 38, so that lthe material may be withdrawn continuously from this ever available intermediate supply for processing. Well known control means (not shown) responds to predetermined depletion of the intermediate supply to automatically control the operations of the sheet feeding means 34.

According to the invention, the accumulator 38, in

the nature of a textile scray, comprises a relatively longY bottom wall or platform 40 which has inclined extent in position to receive the sheet material delivering from the sheet-feeding means 34. The wall or platform 40 is pivotally mounted at its upper edge on a rod 42 which extends transversely between the upper channel members 18 so that it may be adjusted about its pivot to selectively vary the degree of its said inclined extent.

The lower end portion of Wall or platform 40 curves upwardly at 41 and acts to tum over the folds of sheet material at the lower end portion of the pile of folds. A broad side of the endmost fold becomes exposed facing generally upwardly which facilitates free withdrawal of the sheet material. A transverse guide roller or rod 44 is mounted on this lower end portion of the platform, above the curving portion 41, for guiding the withdrawal of the sheet material as best seen in Fig. l. The material 13 engages around roller or rod 44 and passes to and around a roller 46 which is adjustably supported on and above the upper horizontal channel members 18, whence it passes into the open width tensioning unit indicated generally at 48. Unit 48 comprises the two relatively small transverse guide bars 5t), 52. and the three v rolls S4, 56, 58, all of which are supported by Vthe members 60, 62 which are suitably mounted on the uprights 16. T he sheet 13 passes over guide 50, under guide 52, and thence over and under and over the rolls 54, 56, 58, respectively, passing downwardly from roll 58 to and around guide roller 64 on its course to whatever processing it is to undergo.

A cable 66 is connected to a projecting lug 68 at one side of the lower end of accumulator 38, and a cable 70 is connected to a projecting lug 72 at the other side of the lower end of the accumulator. Cable 66V extends upwardly to and around the outer one of two co-axial sheaves 74, 76 which are mounted on the bearing member 60, passing thence downwardly to the drum 78 of a winch which is operatively secured on the near one of the uprights 16 as viewed in Fig. l. Cable 7@ extends upwardly to and around `a sheave 80 which is mounted on y the bearing member 62, passing thence transversely to and around the inner sheave 76 on bearing member 60 and downwardly to the winch drum 78. The drum shaft 82 has a worm wheel l84 thereon meshing with a worm 86 on shaft 88 whose outer end is equipped with a handle 90. Hence, by turning handle 90 in one direction, the `bottom wall or platform of the accumulator may be adjusted labout pivot rod 42 to reduce the degree of its inclination, and by turning handle 90 in the opposite direction the said wall or platform may be adjusted about its pivot 42 to increase the degree of its inclination. lt

is an important feature that the said adjustments may beeifected without interrupting the feed to or withdrawal from the accumulator, and the accumulator remains in whatever position it moves to as a result -of turning of handle 90.

It is essential that some means be provided for guiding the delivering sheet material to a proper location within the scrayor other accumulator, and for restraining the incoming sheet material 'against `any substantial lateral displacement. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a pair of guard bars 92 are mounted in spaced relation above and substantially parallel with the wall or platform 40. Each bar 92 comprises telescoping portions 92a, 92b. The upper end of each portion 92a is adjustably clamped at 94 to a transverse rod or shaft 96 of the sheetfeeding means 34 and, when the clamp is loosened, may be rocked `about the axis'of rod or, Ashaft 96 as well as adjusted to selective positions valong the rod or shaft. The outerend of each bar portion 92b is similarly connected slidably and rotatably to a transverse rod 98 which is mounted on `supports 100 which are rigid on accumulator 38. Hence, the bars 92 readily and quickly may be selectively vadjusted into any spacedrelation which is suit -able or desirable for any particular width of sheet mai terialbeing handled. Also, when the accumulator 38 is adjusted about its pivot rod V42,` the guard bars 92 can pivot Iabout the rod orf shaft `96 with automatic adjustment of their length as best illustrated in Fig. 5. The bars automatically decrease in length with ldecrease of the degrec .of inclination of accumulator 38, and automatically increase in length with increase of the degree of inclinationof the accumulator.

In use of the disclosed apparatus, each operation of the sheet-feeding means 34 draws sheet material from the supply roll 12 and delivers sheet material into the accumulator 38 until a predetermined intermediate supply of the -sheet material is in the accumulator, yat which time the feeding means stops. `Meanwhile, sheet material may be continuously withdrawn from the accumulator for processing and, as the intermediate supply becomes reduced to a predetermined amount, the. feeding means automatically operates to` replenish the intermediate supply.

If and when the feed conditions or the type or character of the material are such as to produce sluggishness of settling of the delivering material in the accumulator, or tend to objectionably wrinkle or crease the sheet material, the accumulator quickly may be adjusted while watching the effects, to selectively 'attain the properinclination yof the accumulator platform 40 best suiting any particular set of conditions. When a change is made from one variety of sheet materialto another or when material )after some treatment comes to the apparatus vfor a second conditions, with the prior comparable accumulatingde- `vices.

It should be understood that the novel features of the invention are applicable in scrays and accumulators which may have a wide variety of inclinations Iand pitches of the wall along land on which sheet material is to be accumulated, and that various changes may be made in details of the` illustrated structure within the Scope of the appended claims. Hence, it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitableexpression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist 'in the invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

l. Sheet material accumulating apparatus, comprising a receptacle having an inclined wall portion; means pivotally supporting the receptacle 'with Vsaid inclined wall portion extending generally in downward direction from the region of said pivotal support, sheet-feeding means associated with said receptacle for ldelivering sheet material to said inclined wall portion of the receptacle, whereby the delivered sheet material tends to slide along `said wall portion and accumulate in lower portions of the receptacle, and mechanism, including a connection to said receptacle, for moving the receptacle about its pivot over a substantial range and for securing it in any of a variety of selective positions thereby to selectively change the degree of inclination pf said wall portion of the receptacle yand the said tendency of the delivering sheet material to accumulate in lower portions of said receptacle.

2. Sheet material accumulating apparatus, comprising a frame, a supply roll of sheet material at one end of the frame, sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame and adapted to draw sheet material from said supply roll, an acciunulator pivotally mounted on said frame in position to receive sheet material delivering from said sheetfeeding means, said accumulator having la wall along and upon which said delivering sheet material accumulates, at least a substantial portion of said wall having inclined generally downward extent from the region of the pivot of the accumulator whereby delivering sheet material tends to slide 'along said inclined wall portion and to accumulate in lower portions of the accumulator, and mechanism, including a connection to said accumulator, for moving the accumulator about its pivot over a substantial range and for securing it in lany of various selective positions y within said range thereby to selectively vary the degree of inclination of said substantial portion of the accumulator wall and to vary the said tendency of the delivering sheet material to accumulate in lower portions of the accumulator.

3. She-et material accumulating apparatus, comprising a frame, a supply rol-l of sheet material at one end of the frame, a platform having one end portion thereof pivotally supported on said frame and having a substantial portion extending with downward inclination from the region of its said pivotal support, said platform being adapted to receive and hold a substantial relatively loose accumulation of sheet material from which the material may be continuously withdrawn for processing, means operable for drawing sheet material lfrom said supply roll land delivering the sheet material to -said inclined portion of the platform whereby the delivering material tends to slide along said wall portion and accumulate on lower portions of the platform, and mechanism operable for moving said platform about its pivot over 'a substantial range and for maintaining it in any of a variety of positions within said range thereby to selectively vary the degree of inclination of said inclined portion of the platform for varying the said tendency of thev delivering material to accumulate on lower portions of the platform.

4. Sheet material acc-umulating apparatus, comprising an accumulator from which sheet material continuously may be withdrawn for processing, sheet-feeding means delivering into said accumulator and adapted to maintain a substantial accumulation of sheet material in the accumulator notwithstanding the said continuous withdrawal therefrom, said accumulator having a material supporting Wall of which at least a substantial portion has downward inclined extent relative to said sheet-feeding means whereby the delivering sheet material tends to slide along said inclined wall portion and to accumulate in lower portions of the accumulator, means pivotally supporting said accumulator, and mechanism for moving the accumulator about its pivot over a substantial range, thereby to selectively vary Ithe degree of inclination of said inclined portion of said wall of the accumulator and to correspondingly vary the said tendency of the delivering sheet material to accumulate in lower portions of the accumulator.

5. In a scray which is adapted to receive and accumulate sheet material delivering to the scray and having an inclined wall portion along which the delivering material tends to slide to lower portions of the scray thereby to provide a relatively loose supply in said lower portions from which sheet material may be withdrawn as needed for processing, the combination therewith of means for selectively moving the said inclined wall portion of the scray over a substantial range relative to the delivering sheet material and for securing it in selective positions thereby to selectively vary the degree of inclination of said wall portion and the resistance offered by said inclined wall portion of the scray to sliding of the `delivering material to said lower portions of the scray.

6. In a scray which is adapted to receive and accumulate sheet material delivering to the scray thereby to provide a relatively loose supply from which sheet-material may be withdrawn as needed for processing said scray having an inclined bottom wall portion along which delivering sheet material tends to slide to lower portions of the scray, the combination therewith of a support pivotally supporting the said inclined wall portion of said scray, and mechanism operable for varying over a substantial range the degree of inclination of said wall portion and for maintaining the said wall portion in any of various selective portions within said range, thereby to correspondngly vary the said sli-ding tendency of the delivering sheet material.

7. Sheet material accumulating apparatus, comprising a generally rectangular frame, means for supporting a supply roll of sheet material at one end of the frame, sheet-feeding means mounted on said frame, a pivot element on said frame, an accumulator pivotally supported on said pivot element and having a wall portion extending with downward inclination from the region of said pivot element, said sheet-feeding means being operable to draw sheet material from said supply .roll and deliver it to said inclined wall portion of the accumulator thereby to maintain a relatively loose intermediate supply in the accumulator from which sheet material may be withdrawn continuously for processing, said delivering sheet material tending to slide along said inclined wall portion to lower portions of the accumulator, `at least one sheet guiding element mounted on said accumulator and extending along and in general parallelism with said inclined wall portion thereof, said element being arranged and adapted to constitute a lateral abutment for lguiding an edge of the delivering sheet material to a predetermined position inward from the adjacent side edge of said inclined wall portion, and means for adjusting the laccumulator selectively about said pivot element over a substantial range and for maintaining it in any of various positions of adjustment within said range, thereby to selectively vary the degree of inclination of said inclined wall portion of the accumulator and the said sliding tendency of the delivering sheet material. Y

8. Sheet 4material accumulating apparatus, comprising a generally rectangular frame, means for supporting a supply roll of sheet material at one end of the frame, sheet feeding means mounted on said frame, a pivot element on said frame, an accumulator pivotally supported on said pivot element and having a wall portion extending with downward inclination from the region of said pivot element, said sheet-feeding means being operable to draw sheet material from said supply roll and deliver it to said t inclined wall portion of the accumulator thereby to maintain a relatively loose intermediate supply in the accumulator from which sheet material may be withdrawn continuously for processing, said delivering sheet material tending to slide along said inclined wall portion to lower portions of the accumulator, sheet guiding elements mounted onrsaid accumulator in spaced parallelism with said inclined ,Wallportion thereof, the upper end of each of said elements being pivotally supported ataV relatively fixed location spaced radially outward from said pivot guiding relation to `opposite edge portions of delivering sheet material of any of a variety of Widths, and means for adjusting the accumulator selectively about said pivot element over a substantial range and for maintaining it in any of various positions of adjustment within said range, thereby to selectively vary the degree of inclinationof said inclined wall portion of the accumulatorV and the said sliding tendency -of the delivering sheet material, said guiding elements pivoting simultaneously about their said lspaced pivots, and means embodied in said guiding eleto each `said 'adjustment of the accumulator.

UNITED, STATES PATENTS Peckham July 1S, Hunziker Nov. 8v, v Goins' E Ian.. l, Sidebotham Feb.` 4, Moore` Sept. 9, Miller Sept. 20,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 29,

ments for automatically changing their lengths in response 

